Kante to sign new Chelsea contract

N’Golo Kante is reportedly set to commit his future to Chelsea, despite links with Paris Saint-Germain.

According to L’Equipe - talks over renewing his contract have started and it’s claimed the discussions should ‘end in the coming weeks’, that will result in the Frenchman staying at Stamford Bridge and receiving ‘one of the biggest wages in the Premier League’.

A couple of months ago the Times claimed the new deal would worth around £290,000 a week, which would make him the club’s best-paid player - ahead of Eden Hazard.

Manchester United want Cahill

United are preparing to move for Chelsea star Cahill after he’s been told he can leave Stamford Bridge, according to reports.

Cahill’s current contract with Chelsea expires at the end of the season so he would be available to leave on a free transfer but the Daily Express reports that Chelsea have told him they will not stand in his way if he gets an offer to leave in January.

With Mourinho still keen on signing a new centre back the suggestion is United will be after him when the window opens.

(Image: Maja Hitij - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

14:30

Chelsea blow in wonderkid chase

Brescia owner Massimo Cellino has said he would prefer to sell midfielder Sandro Tonali to another Italian club. The 18-year-old currently plies his trade in Seri B but has been linked with a £20m move to Chelsea.

If he wants to stay at Brescia, I am willing to keep him forever, . “In any case, I would like to enjoy him a bit more and focus on promotion to Serie A. Tonali has not called me yet but it’s logical that everyone likes him.

If and when the time comes to sell him, a super offer won’t be enough to convince me. Those who want him, need to show their love for me and Tonali.

By love, I mean respect in their approach, at the right time and they should not distract the player.

As it happened to me with [Radja] Nainggolan at Cagliari – Juventus offered more money, but Roma proved that they wanted him more and made sacrifices.

My idea for Tonali is to see him as a protagonist at an Italian club and reviving our football.

(Image: Dino Panato/Getty Images)

13:01

Chelsea stats

12:43

Essien's legends tour

12:17

Hmmm

N’Golo Kante would definitely seem like the last person to get an offshore account for his wages. Not a good look if the leaks are true for Chelsea though.

12:09

Kante on his new role

France international N’Golo Kante has spoken about the “challenge” of playing under Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea.

After taking charge of the Blues in the summer, the Italian has moved the midfielder into a slightly more advanced position.

During his title-winning spells with Leicester City and his current club the 27-year-old was deployed in front of the defence in all-encompassing role that saw him win the ball and dominate the cente of the pitch.

However, ex-Napoli playmaker Jorginho has taken charge in that area of the pitch for Sarri, with Kante forced to get up and down the field not unlike a box-to-box midfielder.

Conte's future

Antonio Conte has once again been asked about his future and has reaffirmed that he is no rush to return. The Italian did admit a return to Italy would interest him:

Let’s see what happens in the future, but for sure Italy. I would like be in Italy and work again in Italy, without excluding that I might work again abroad. For a manager of my level it is better to wait instead of jumping on a train. I prefer to wait for June and to start a path with a new team, a new project. For the moment, I don’t feel the urge to go back to work. Maybe in a two or three months I will feel the desire and I’ll say something different from what I am saying now.

Christensen opens up on potential departure

Andreas Christensen has opened up on his Chelsea future amid talk of a January exit from Stamford Bridge.

Yet to feature in the Premier League this term with Maurizio Sarri using David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger at the back, the player’s father stated last month that he could leave come the turn of the year if his chances in the first team do not improve.

Rumours

Scudamore’s replacement is expected to be named following a meeting in London later today and Buck has led the process alongside Leicester chief executive Susan Whelan and Burnley chairman Mike Garlick.

The Daily Mail believes that Buck has a close personal friendship with Scudamore that has developed since the former became Chelsea chairman in 2003. The chairman has asked the league’s 20 clubs to each make a donation of £250,000 for the deal.

Bruce Buck at the FA Cup final (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Chelsea were linked with a summer move for Inter striker Mauro Icardi, and those links have resurfaced ahead of the January transfer window.

He is a player that Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri has been after in the past.

Despite failing to lure the Argentine to Napoil, president Aurelio De Laurentiis’ comments should excite Blues fans with the striker now linked to a move to Stamford Bridge.

I offered 55-60 million, I do not remember. I met his wife, very nice. We spent an afternoon together, we negotiated a potential contract.

Icardi is a champion, he could become a new Ronaldo, in the hands of Sarri he could make 40 goals.